How do co-inherited blood conditions affect malaria protection? V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the malaria protective properties of erythrocytes with multiple haemoglobinopathies
IRAS ID
104161
Contact name
Bridget S Penman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Universtiy of Warwick
Research summary
Genetic blood disorders, such as sickle cell anaemia, reach high frequencies in regions with a history of malaria. Individuals who inherit two copies of a malfunctioning gene often experience a severe disorder. Individuals who only inherit one copy (carriers) have mild to no symptoms. The ‘malaria hypothesis’ proposes that carriers of these mutations enjoy protection against death from malaria. However, the mechanisms behind such malaria protection remain mysterious.
We aim to examine how the malaria parasite interacts with blood cells with more than one protective condition. The result of our experiments will help us narrow down the potential mechanisms behind the protection they offer.
In the development phase of the study, we propose to use blood samples discarded after routine haemoglobin disorder screening at King’s College Hospital (KCH). We will select samples that are known to have particular conditions (sickle cell trait, beta thalassaemia trait, haemoglobin C, alpha thalassaemia, or any combination of the first three aforementioned conditions with alpha thalassaemia), and use them to develop and refine the assays that we use in the main part of the study.
For the main study, we will use the records of the haemoglobin disorder screening programme at KCH to identify individuals with any of the conditions listed above. We will approach these individuals to ask them if they would be willing to donate a blood sample (6 teaspoons) for use in laboratory studies of malaria.
It will be necessary to test for two medically important conditions in the blood samples obtained from consenting participants: alpha thalassaemia and Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency. We will make it clear to potential participants that these tests will be performed. Participants will be informed of the results. We will not perform any genetic or diagnostic tests on the discarded samples used in the development phase of the study.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0728
Date of REC Opinion
1 Jul 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion